Saving whales is one thing, but battling sharks in the cold recesses of space?
Some fans have voiced their concerns online over the fact that there currently aren’t any Star Trek television and/or streaming series in production. Well, during the latest episode of the Dropping Names podcast, which is hosted by The Next Generation’s Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes, the former presented a hilarious yet intriguing idea.
Spiner, who portrayed the beloved character of Data on TNG, offered up his own pitch for a Trek — and it’s perfect for the upcoming Shark Week (Sunday, July 26, through Saturday, Aug. 1). Spiner said during the podcast, courtesy of the Dropping Names YouTube channel:
“Remember Sharknado? I had this idea — maybe now’s the time for it really. I had an idea called Treknado. Where it’s sharks in space, and we fight them in space [laughs]. I think now that there’s no [Star Trek series in production this is the perfect time.]"
Meanwhile, Frakes and special guest Tom Bergeron of Hollywood Squares, AFV, and Dancing with the Stars fame, waited patiently for Spiner to lay out his idea. And then Bergeron asked Spiner, “Can I have some of what you’re smoking,” while good naturedly laughing at the facetious Treknado idea.
“If you could be captain of the Enterprise and fight sharks in space, would you do it?” Spiner asked Frakes, as he pressed on with his Star Trek meets Sharknado pitch, to which Frakes immediately replied, “Yes.”
Spiner went on about Treknado, and he also reiterated that he’d be pitching Frakes as the captain of the Enterprise. However, Bergeron, who knows Picard season 3 ended with Jeri Ryan’s character Seven of Nine being promoted to commander the Enterprise-G, quickly interjected, “Isn’t Jeri Ryan going to be pissed?"
Frakes then suggested to Spiner that he would return as Admiral William Riker, instead of captain of the Enterprise. That way he wouldn’t have to work as hard, and Ryan could carry the show. And then, quick-witted as always, Spiner suggested that Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Ian Ziering, who plays Fin in the Sharknado films, come aboard and portray a Klingon in the proposed Treknando movie.
Honestly, Spiner had me at “fight sharks in space.” Would his idea make for an entertaining and enduring live-action series? I’m not sure, but the Treknado pitch sounds perfect for a Star Trek: Lower Decks movie! After all, both Frakes and Spiner reprised their roles on Lower Decks before the show ended.
Can you envision animated Data and Riker teaming up with Mariner (Tawny Newsome) and Boimler (Jack Quaid) in a Lower Decks: Treknado film event, too? Or would you prefer to see Spiner, Frakes, and Ryan team up on the Enterprise-G in a live-action streaming series to battle sharks in space? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.
And be sure to check out Shark Week on Discovery staring Sunday, July 26.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!
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